This practice deals with transplant and immunocompromised clients.
We take COVID and other illnesses very seriously.
Short link to this page – https://bit.ly/3Pgms5w
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Notice for all visitors to the clinic.
Masks are no longer required in health-care settings; however, this practice will continue virus-vigilant operations as a number of my clientele are very high-risk, including respiratory and transplant cases. If we have a highly vulnerable person due in, you may be asked to wear a mask. I do my best to schedule vulnerable patient early and first in the week to avoid this happening.
In all circumstances, if you or your close contacts have shown or experienced any viral symptoms (cold, flu, covid etc.) in the last 5 days, please do not book in, or cancel your booking if affected.
This is not just for Covid-19, but also influenza, RSV, colds, other viruses, and bacterial infections; all of which can be passed on in respiratory droplet, air, and/or contact with contaminated surfaces. Whilst I disinfect the clinic and myself regularly, the transmission rates of the current viruses circulating make assurance of non-transmission impossible at a practical level and our collective health depends on all of us doing our part. (Whilst masks of all types are now shown to do little to avoid infection, they DO minimise inadvertent spread from an infected individual.)
The unpleasant truth is that 90%+ of all colds, flus and other viral, fungal, and bacterial infections enter the body via fingers going into the nose and is the most common vector of viral infection. Keep your fingers away from your face! Masks DO help in this regard as a physical barrier. To help everyone, not just you, use sanitiser consistently, keep your hands clean, and avoiding touching surfaces you don’t need to.
Testing – PCR and RAT – what works and what doesn’t?
With Omicron XBB.1.5, testing is now very much in question. Rapid antigen tests come in two primary types, those testing for spike antigens, and those testing for nucleocapsid antigens. The rapid test will say on the box if it is a nucleocapsid type; if it does not say “nucleocapsid antigen”, throw the test kit away and go and get something somewhat more likely to actually work. 
Keeping a spike antigen rapid test is like keeping the green and fuzzy stew that’s been in the back of the refrigerator a few months too long. It is out-of-date, dangerous, and needs to be thrown out.
If you have rapid tested negative, but still have symptoms, get a PCR test. PCR tests are the most reliable of tests we have and are adaptive to the current variants. PCR tests will often also test for Influenza and RSV. If you have non-covid viral symptoms, stay home! If you can’t stay home, then mask up properly, sanitise, and minimise your time in public. You might be okay, but there are a lot of people you could infect who wont be – it’s not just a cold to someone who is immune compromised!
Aussies are supposed to look out for one another, so let’s all be what we claim to be and call out those acting like spoiled, selfish children around us.
I’ve been sick, how soon can I come in for a treatment?
For known Covid-19 cases – You need to be completely symptom free for 5 days &/OR symptom-free and have returned 2 negative nucleocapsid rapid tests or 1 PCR test before attending your appointment.
For colds, influenzas and RSV – you must be completely symptom free for 3 days and have had at least 2 negative nucleocapsid rapid tests or a negative PCR tests during your illness.
For close contacts of COVID-19 illness – you must have remained completely symptom free for at least 8 days and the contact must be symptom-free, or otherwise well past the main symptoms for the prior 5 days.
Important information concerning COVID-19 and vaccinations.
Aspiration is critical when receiving any vaccine!
Most vaccines – including all of those for Covid-19 – are meant to be given into muscle tissue. For most vaccines (including mRNA), they essentially “activate” when they find muscle tissue. The problem comes when a shot has inadvertently found a vein. If the vaccine goes into the vein, the next muscles in line are those of the heart and lungs – hence the cases of cardiac and pulmonary issues following vaccination.
Aspiration is a procedure where the needle is inserted, then the plunger is pulled back for a few seconds. If no blood returns to the syringe, it is clear of any veins and the shot is well placed. If blood comes back, it’s in a vein and needs to be repositioned. This used to be standard procedure for all intramuscular injections, and is a practice that you should insist on with any intramuscular injection. If your clinic refuses to aspirate, LEAVE and find another who will.
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A personal opinion on Covid-19 vaccines
Whilst there has been a good public-health case made for the original double vaccinations, there is little in science or evidence showing additional shots provide greater protection from severe disease. The risk profile for unvaccinated people who have had an Omicron infection runs consistent with those who have been fully vaccinated. Personally, I have severe ongoing health responses to the mRNA vaccines which have persisted since November 2021 and have not yet abated and will not be seeking any booster shots. I do not ask about vaccination status from my clients and visitors – I only got the shots because it was mandatory, and my family is medically unable to receive vaccinations.
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